What's on in Maastricht, Netherlands through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in Netherlands, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Peak crowds — Vastelaovend carnival, Voorjaarsvakantie (February) holidays in Netherlands

• Festival

  Vastelaovend carnival

  1 Feb – 10 Mar · usuallyCrowdedClosuresBook early

  Three days before Ash Wednesday when Limburg stops working and the whole city dresses up; brass bands rather than floats, and everything else shut. Book a year out or stay in another town. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Vastelaovend carnival, TEFAF art fair

• Festival

  TEFAF art fair

  8–20 Mar · usuallyArts festivalCrowdedBook early

  The world's serious art and antiques fair, a week in March at the MECC that fills every hotel in the province and puts private jets on the runway at Beek. Rooms are at their dearest of the year. Source ↗

Still on: Vastelaovend carnival (1 Feb – 10 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — King's Day, Meivakantie (May) holidays in Netherlands

• Holiday

  King's Day

  27 AprNational holidayCrowded

  King's Day turns Dutch towns orange: street markets where anyone may sell, outdoor parties and live music fill the centres, and trains and bars are packed. It falls on 27 April, or the 26th when the 27th is a Sunday. Source ↗

Busy — Meivakantie (May) holidays in Netherlands, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Sint Servaas city procession

  14–20 May · usuallyReligious feast

  On the first Sunday after 13 May, the feast of the city's patron saint, a procession leaves the Sint Servaas Basilica and winds through the old centre to the Basilica of Our Lady. Traditional, unhurried, and free to watch from the street. Source ↗

• Festival

  Pinkpop

  19–21 JunMusic festivalCrowdedBook early

  The world's longest-running annual pop festival fills Megaland in Landgraaf, about 35 km east, for three days in June. Maastricht is the nearest city with a large hotel stock, so rooms there go early that weekend. Source ↗

Busy — Pinkpop, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Pinkpop (19–21 Jun)

Peak crowds — Vrijthof summer concerts, Summer holidays in Netherlands

• Festival

  Vrijthof summer concerts

  1–31 Jul · usuallyMusic festivalCrowdedBook early

  Andre Rieu plays a run of open-air nights on his home square through July, and the coach parties that come for it book out the city centre. Lovely square, impossible restaurant table. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Preuvenemint food festival, Summer holidays in Netherlands

• Festival

  Preuvenemint food festival

  27–30 AugFood & drink festivalCrowded

  Four late-August days when the Vrijthof becomes an open-air restaurant run by the city's own kitchens, free to walk into and pay per plate. The last warm weekend of the Dutch summer, usually. Source ↗

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Nederlandse Dansdagen

  2–8 OctArts festival

  The Dutch Dance Days bring the country's companies to Theater aan het Vrijthof and other stages for a week in early October: premieres, prize-winners, and dance evenings open to anyone who wants to join in. Source ↗

Still on: Preuvenemint food festival (27–30 Aug)

Busy — Herfstvakantie (autumn) holidays in Netherlands, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Nederlandse Dansdagen (2–8 Oct)

Peak crowds — 11/11 carnival season opening, Magisch Maastricht Christmas market

• Festival

  11/11 carnival season opening

  11 NovCrowded

  At 11:11 on 11 November the carnival season opens, and costumed Maastrichtenaren fill the cafes around the Vrijthof on a working day. The province-wide televised opening has moved to other towns, but the city still marks it. Source ↗

• Festival

  Magisch Maastricht Christmas market

  27 Nov – 27 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

  The Vrijthof turns into a winter fair for a month: Christmas stalls, a skating rink, a Ferris wheel and bars open until late. Weekend evenings are the busiest; weekday mornings are calmer. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Magisch Maastricht Christmas market, Christmas holidays in Netherlands

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Magisch Maastricht Christmas market (27 Nov – 27 Dec)